First Draft Zehra Ertürk

How foreign language learning/ teaching can be improved in Turkey

Most of us have always believed that learning a foreign language at an early age is more effective. We all learn English since elementary school, so why do only a few of us know English properly?

The reason behind Turkey’s visible failure in foreign language education cannot be tied to a single factor. However, it would not be wrong to say that a large part of the problem originates from the school system and the way English is taught there. Since most of us first encounter English in schools, it is natural to start looking for the source of the issue there. To change this situation, many efforts have been made: preparation classes were added to schools, private schools focusing on English education were established, the number of English class hours increased, the starting age for learning English was lowered. However, English still remains a foreign concept for many of us.

According to a report titled “National Needs Analysis of English Language Teaching in State Schools in Turkey” by the British Council and the Economic Policy Research Foundation of Turkey (TEPAV), students’ interest in English decreases as they move up to higher grades. Children find the textbook centered lessons boring or difficult. English is not seen as a language but as a school subject. This pushes students to learn only for exams, turning grades into the main goal. While students initially think they will learn to communicate in a new language, they are instead faced with a grammar based, memorization heavy system. Spending too much time on theory rather than practice causes them to lose motivation over time.

However, learning a language is not limited to grammar rules and memorization. To use English effectively, four main skills must be developed: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Yet, even though these skills are well known, the way we approach English in daily life and in the classroom often prevents us from improving them effectively. Our social life is far removed from English. We rarely encounter the language outside the classroom. A language must be kept alive and made part of everyday life. To solve this, English should be integrated into daily activities through movies, music, podcasts, games, and even social media. So that it becomes a natural part of our environment rather than something only related to school.

Another major issue is the lack of speaking and hearing English during lessons. Teachers often use Turkish in class, which limits students exposure. Teachers should speak English not only themselves but encourage students to communicate in English as much as possible. People learn best through exposure and necessity just like babies learn to speak naturally when they are surrounded by language. At the same time, teachers should create a safe classroom atmosphere where students are not afraid to make mistakes. Instead of being criticized, students should be supported and guided.

A further problem is the lack of vocabulary, which makes students hesitant to express themselves. To overcome this, students should set weekly goals to learn new words according to their proficiency levels and use them actively in writing or speaking exercises. Vocabulary notebooks, word games, and context-based learning can be helpful for this.

Another problem is that the cultural aspect of English is often ignored. Instead of exploring the culture of the target language, lessons mainly compare English grammar with Turkish rules. To solve this, cultural elements should be more included in subject materials.

Because of this difficulties, students often fail to learn the content as planned. the same topics are repeated every year, which leads to boredom and lack of progress. Students should be placed into classes based on their actual language proficiency levels, so learning would be more personalized and effective.

Lastly, prejudice and lack of self-confidence also prevent success. Many people say, “I don’t have a talent for languages,” but this belief is far from true. Everyone can learn a language if they show enough interest, patience, and consistency.

In conclusion, the problem of English learning in Turkey is complex and rooted in both the education system and social attitudes. Learning a language is a skill built through practice, not an innate talent. After all, speaking is something every human learns naturally from birth.